Meet the Biofore Concept Car

Overview

Biofore Concept Car is all about change: a change in perspective and in the global approach of using renewable materials. The car is a great example of Biofore thinking, and we believe it will be a milestone in the utilisation of next generation biomaterials in the automotive value chain.

The concept car is designed and manufactured in partnership with Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, and several other partner companies.

The engineering and industrial design students of Metropolia designed and manufactured the car with the guidance of teachers who have successfully carried out several internationally renowned concept car projects.

Design and engineering by Team Metropolia

The Biofore Concept Car is designed and manufactured by students from the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

“Sustainability is a major subject globally. We were excited to be able to design and build a vehicle that would demonstrate that already today we have biomaterials that are a real alternative to traditional oil-based materials. During the past four years of building the Biofore Concept Car, our students have come to see that these biomaterials are of high quality, durable and also offer new design opportunities,” says Pekka Hautala, Project Director from Metropolia.

“The Biofore Concept Car showcases the potential of UPM’s biomaterials. Not only for the automotive industry, but also for various other end-uses including design, acoustics - a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. The possibilities are endless," says Elisa Nilsson, Vice President of Brand and Communications at UPM.

Powered by UPM BioVerno

The Biofore Concept Car is no traditional concept car. It’s the real thing – designed to be street-legal and ready for a spin. A car is of no use unless it takes you from A to B. The Biofore Concept Car does just this – only a lot more sustainably.

The Biofore Concept Car runs on renewable diesel, UPM BioVerno. A fuel that has been produced 100% outside food value chain. This innovative renewable diesel is developed and refined by UPM. The fuel will decrease greenhouse gas emissions remarkably in comparison to fossil fuels, and it is suitable for all diesel engines.

Biomaterials that exceed your expectations

The Biofore Concept Car improves the sustainability of a car’s lifecycle in many ways. First, by replacing traditionally plastic components with ones made from biomaterials, the overall weight is reduced significantly, which leads to lower fuel consumption.

Second, the parts are recyclable and have a lower ecological footprint in production. All biomaterial-based components are safe, durable and ecological.

UPM Grada thermoformable wood material

New design opportunities

By using renewable materials like UPM Formi and UPM Grada, businesses can reinvent their design approaches. UPM’s biomaterials can be used to create lighter and recyclable end products that can also aesthetically bear new characteristics via wooden textures.

UPM Raflatac´s label products

In addition, UPM Raflatac’s label products demonstrate their performance in the Biofore Concept Car. Used in the metal spare parts and engine compartment, the labels are heat and chemical resistant and manufactured by using the latest adhesive technology and solvent-free production processes.

The next generation

The automotive industry is going through a major paradigm shift. All traditional forms of power output, fuels, materials and vehicle types are being questioned. The choices we make in the near future are crucial in redefining the passenger car as a more responsible option for transportation.

Next step in renewable biomaterials

We not only need to cut down on fuel consumption, but also make sure that automotive production value chains use renewable materials. Power must be produced with less emissions and burden on non-renewable resources. Fibre based composite materials provide similar safety, durability and quality in automotive end-uses as traditional materials. Components that are currently made of plastic can often be replaced with renewable biomaterials without any compromises.

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Partners and contacts

UPM

Alvar Aallon katu 1P.O.Box 380FI-00101 HelsinkiFinland

Tel. +358 (0) 204 15 111Fax +358 (0) 204 15 110info@upm.com

www.upm.comwww.upmformi.comwww.upmgrada.com

Metropolia

Helsinki Metropolia Universityof Applied Sciences, Finland's largest university of applied sciences, educates future professionals in the fields of culture, business, health care and social services, and technology.

Metropolia is a reliable cooperation partner and an innovator in higher education.

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